7 Incredible Phoenix To Page AZ Road Trip Stops
Planning a road trip from Phoenix to Page, and wondering what cool stops there along the way? You’ve come to the right place.
The drive from Phoenix to Page is over 4 hours, so stopping to stretch your legs is essential.
I recently made the drive from Phoenix to Page, and was on the lookout for unique places to stop by. Thankfully, there are a variety of interesting landmarks, and great restaurants in cities like Sedona and Flagstaff off the highway.
This article will cover a list of the best road stops, so you can plan a relaxed and enjoyable trip.
Ready to discover the best Phoenix to Page road trip stops? Let’s hop right in!
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Montezuma’s Castle is an interesting national monument of ancient Sinagua cliff dwellings located right off the highway. It has walkways shaded by sycamore trees where you can view the cliff dwellings, a museum, and restrooms.
This is the perfect place to stop to learn about Native American history, and take a break from driving. It’s located right next to Sedona, at around midway between Phoenix and Page.
It costs $10 per person for a 7 day pass. You can also use this pass to visit the Tuzigoot National Monument, a fascinating multi-story ancient pueblo ruin with a museum. However, the Tuzigoot National Monument is in Clarkdale, which is around a 30 minute detour off the highway.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater is the youngest volcano in Arizona, which last erupted around 1050, and now is a popular landmark. It gets its name after the beautiful red glow that can be seen on the top of the volcano, from oxidized lava splatter.
It has a small visitor center, and a variety of hiking trails you can explore to see the volcanic features. It’s just north of Flagstaff, and around a 10 minute detour off of highway 89.
It costs $10-$25 per vehicle for a 7 day pass. This pass is also valid for the Wupatki National Monument. If you only have time for one stop, I highly recommend this one.
Sedona (The Village of Oak Creek)
Sedona is one of the best places to stop to eat and enjoy views of the red rock mountains, between Phoenix and Page. It’s located midway through the drive, and The Village of Oak Creek in Sedona is just 7 miles off of highway 17 (around a 10 minute drive).
Here you can see the iconic Bell Rock mountain, and stop for food. Oak Creek Espresso is the place to go for coffee, Miley’s Cafe and Red Rock Cafe are great Southwestern breakfast spots, and Rotten Johnny’s makes some of the best pizza in town.
Cameron Trading Post
The Cameron Trading Post is a popular rest stop to get gas, snacks, and food right off of the highway. This is a large gift shop with a gas station, hotel, and on-site restaurant.
You can shop around for Native American artwork and souvenirs at their gift shop, and try out Navajo tacos and sweet bread at their restaurant.
It’s located right off of highway 19, at around 3 hours into the drive from Phoenix to Page.
Wupatki National Monument
The Wupatki National Monument is one of the largest protected ancient pueblo settlements in Arizona, just north of Flagstaff. It consists of large ancient ruin settlements with over 100 rooms, a ball court, and other unique structures.
There’s a great visitor center with information on the history of the Pueblo people, and it’s just a short walk to get to the ruins. It’s located right off Highway 89, so it’s definitely worth checking out on the route from Phoenix to Page.
It costs $15-$25 per vehicle for a 7 day pass, but is covered if you’ve purchased a pass to Sunset Crater.
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Just east of Flagstaff, Walnut Canyon National Monument is another gem if you’re interested in exploring Native American History. This is a national monument with over 300 ancient cliff dwellings, a visitor center, and museum.
Here you can descend down over 200 stairs into the canyon to see, and walk around the cliff dwellings. You’ll have to climb back up the stairs, so it’s a great way to stay active on a long road trip.
Alternatively, you can overlook the canyon from the observation decks at the visitor center. It’s located right off of Highway 89, and costs $25 per vehicle for a 7 day pass.
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, just around 10 minutes off of the highway.
It’s one of the oldest observatories in the United States, where Pluto, and the first evidence of the universe expanding was discovered! If you love astronomy, it’s well worth a visit.
The observatory has telescopes for solar viewing, tours, science shows, and stargazing sessions at night. To enter, there’s an admission fee of $29 for adults, and $17 for children (5–17). This fee covers all–day access to everything, including the tours.
More Things To See In Flagstaff
Here are a few places in Flagstaff worth checking out, if you plan on staying a night in Flagstaff.
Buffalo Park
A peaceful forest park surrounded by pine trees with various hiking trails, and spectacular views of the mountains.
Lava River Cave
A lava cave formed between 650,000-700,000 years ago, that you can hike a mile into. The inside of the cave is cold, pitch black, so you’ll need to bring a flashlight if you plan on exploring.
Additionally, it’s a rocky trail with loose boulders, so it’s important to wear hiking shoes and wear a backpack to keep your hands free.
Summary
Page is home to a variety of geological wonders like Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, great day hikes, and fun recreational activities at Lake Powell.
The drive from Phoenix to Page is around 4.5 hours each way, but worth it. Although you’ll be driving on the same road, you’ll pass by pine forests, mountains, and diverse, beautiful desert landscapes as you approach Page.
If you only have the time for one stop, I recommend stopping by Sunset Crater Volcano. This monument has short hiking trails, shaded by pine trees, so it’s great for staying active on a long road trip.
Plus, the entrance fee to Sunset Crater will grant you access to Wupatki National Monument, which you can stop by on your return back to Phoenix!
For more ideas on what to do during your trip, check out our list of the best things to do in Page, and our one day Page itinerary!